The week has finally ended. The four of us (Sally Face, Travis, Larry, and myself) agreed not to talk about what happened to anyone, especially not any adults. Larry ended up apologizing profusely, and I could tell Sal felt bad for pinning me to the ground and making me talk to him, but I forgave them both, naturally. Also, Sal apparently owns blue bandaids which I thought was cool but never would have guessed.

Unfortunately, I had to sit next to Travis in detention again the next day, but we both understood that if we didn't pretend to enjoy each other's company, we'd be stuck here for as long as it took. And by Wednesday, I was sitting in the back of the room to Sal's left, who had Larry to his right (he got in trouble for punching the hell out of the Christian boy). It was kinda fun, I won't lie.

Anyway.

I'm cuddling with Sal on his bed and we're watching The Taking of Deborah Logan, his favorite horror movie (). It's quite disturbing, honestly. I was falling asleep in the first half, but things escalated way too fast to be anywhere near my comfort zone! On the other hand, my friend seemed to be more focused on me, rather than the film.

"Hey, you good?" I elbowed him.

"Yeah, why?" his deep voice surprised me for some reason.

"Nothing, you were just taking in my extravagant beauty for an extended period of time," I replied dramatically with a smirk.

"One cannot help themselves," he sighed. I could tell he was smiling by the way his mask shifted.

"Well, you're gonna have to when I finally find the remote and traumatize you with Human Centipede," I laughed and half-heartedly tried to push him off the bed.

Sal pushed me back a bit harder and snickered as if he had won something. I felt myself falling, so I decided if I was going down, he was too. I quickly grabbed his sleeve, not expecting to actually hit the floor. I forgot that he wasn't expecting to fall, either. Thus, here we are, Sal laughing his ass off on top of me while I cough and gasp for air.

"Get- off!" I hiss, clawing at his ribs.

"HAHAHA- oh shit, you can't breathe," he quickly got up and tossed me over his shoulder like I weighed nothing.

"I said get off... not... whatever this is," I panted.

"Popcorn," Sal said simply.

"I am not- oh. But you said you didn't have any."

"We're going to the store, I'm bored anyway," he clicked the TV off and set me down.

"As much as I love being lazy, you realize there are other modes of transportation available, y'know, like walking?" I pulled my shoes, jacket, and gloves on.

"Yeah," he chuckled and tossed me a black beanie.

"Thanks. Hey, don't your ears get cold? I forgot you never wear hats because of your mask," I questioned.

"Eh, sometimes," he stuffed his wallet and house key in a pocket and opened the door.

-Time skip because walking to Meijer's isn't an outlandish adventure-

"Dear Jesus, I forgot how nice heaters are," I mumbled and removed my gloves.

"Heh, if your hands are cold I can hold them," Sal offered. I knew he didn't mean anything romantic by it, but I still blushed, regardless. I held out my left hand for him to take and immediately pulled him down to the toys section where an enormous shelf of overpriced stuffed animals stood in all its glory.

"Ya want one?"

"No thanks, I refuse to interact with large corporations overpricing, but thank you. I just wanted to look for a minute," I explained. I made him spend the next twelve minutes looking at which ones were cute, which ones were deformed, and which was the most expensive (it ended up being a medium-sized blue f/a for $60).

"Okay, time for popcorn," I said suddenly, only to be offered a speedy piggyback ride to the desired aisle, of which I accepted. My companion let go of my hand and bent down before lifting me up and jogging across the store.

"Jesus, did you eat too many cookies? Too much caffeine?" I asked as my feet hit the linoleum flooring. I was tired just thinking about carrying another person.

"No, you're just light," he let out a soft laugh and went back to holding my hand while he regained his breath.

"Uh-huh, sure thing, bubs," I said, distracted by the unreasonably wide variety of microwave popcorn flavors and brands. Sal got what he needed and quickly payed before leaving. The walk home was nice, we talked about our favorite video games () and TV shows with our fingers intertwined. I felt like I got to know him a little better.

We arrived at our destination sooner than I had anticipated and I sat on the counter next to Sal, who was standing, facing me with one forearm resting on the cool surface as the popcorn heated up in the microwave.

"Hey, do you mind if we go to your place after the popcorn is done? My dad is supposed to come home soon and I didn't tell him I was inviting anyone over..."

"Yeah, of course! I'll text my mom, just a sec," I smiled brightly. The boy nodded his thanks, and a moment later, I heard the door click.

"Hi Sally Face, who's this? Hey, are you finally dating someone? Is this the one you always talk ab-" Sal's father seemed more intrigued by my presence than angry at my friend for a lack of communication.

"Oh my god, dad- no. They're just a friend," the boy interrupted, his ears tinted pink.

"Haha, okay, if ya say so," he smiled. "You can call me Henry, by the way."

"It's nice to meet you, I'm Y/n. Back to what you were saying about Sal talking about- HEY!" I was quickly swept off the countertop and into Sal's grasp. And before you could say PortableMoose™️, the teen was already shutting the front door behind us.

"Ohhhhhhh my gosh! You liiiiiike me?~ Is that why you always hold my hand and stuff?" I teased.

"Alright, no stuffed animal for you."

"WHAT- SIR, EXPLAIN YOURSELF," I cried.

"Well, I'm not as easily distracted as some of us," I didn't have to see to know there was a sly grin under that mask. He showed me what was in the plastic bag he was carrying.

It was a blue f/a.

"Sal, you didn't have to-" I was cut off mid-sentence by him lifting the bottom of his mask and pressing his lips against mine.

"W-well shit, man. I... I love you too," I stuttered once he pulled away. I could feel heat rising to my face and I wasn't really sure what to do now. This is really awkward... I decided to just go for it and lifted his mask a bit to kiss him again.

He pressed my body against his own and leaned into my lips. I guess he took his mask off all the way, because I could feel it in his hand when he wrapped an arm around my waist. This honestly took me by surprise, since I didn't think he'd be that open with me. I guess it makes sense, though, considering he just KISSED ME. HOLY SHIT OHMYGODWHYISITJUSTNOWSINKINGINTHATHEKISSEDME (translation: oh my god, why is it just now sinking in that he kissed me) ?!

Our lips parted for air and I just looked him in the eyes.

"You're blushing soo hard," I laughed suddenly. Sal's face really was red.

"You're blushing harder," he smiled and hugged me the tightest he ever has. I merely hushed him and pecked his cheek before returning the embrace.

"So... what should I tell your dad?" I asked with a smug grin, releasing .

"Hey man, do you want the stuffed animal or not?"

"Yes-"

"Then shut up," he laughed and grabbed my hands.

"Damn, I thought you were a bott- actually, I'm not gonna finish that sentence."

"Uh-huh," the boy gave me a warning look before handing over the plushie.

"Ummm what the actual fuck did I just witness," Larry was standing at the end of the hall, and I made the mistake of making eye contact.

"I was gonna call Sal a bottom," I called. "And now I'm gonna run so he can't-"

"Oh no you're not," he let go of my hands and grabbed one wrist and started dragging me back to his apartment. "C'mon."

"AYO I THOUGHT YOUR DAD WAS IN THERE-"

"I- what did you think I was doing?" He stopped and turned to look me dead in the eye.

"Uh... Proving you're not a bottom?" I gave him a pleasedon'tkillme smile.

"OH MY GOD YOU GUYS ARE GONNA HAVE SE-"

"Shut the fuck up!" I yelled, interrupting Larry. "Anyway, now that all three of us are scarred for life, wanna go hang out at my place?"

"Nah, I'll let you two make out in peace," Larry chuckled.

"Sir-"

Sal patted my head as if to tell me not to waste my breath. I sighed and tried to brush his hand from my wrist.

"Nope, you lost your freedom privileges."

"You can't keep me on a leash, Sally Face," I sneered.

"Yeah, I can. And I will."

"Oh my god, speaking of which, Larry was DEFINITELY a leash child. Like, I can totally imagine Lisa praying the fabric doesn't rip as he drags her around an airport," I thought it was pretty funny, but Sal didn't look amused. "What's wrong?"

He didn't reply for a moment. As I opened my mouth to ask if he was okay, he finally spoke up.

"Why are you thinking about Larry right now?"

"W-what?" I was kinda shocked, honestly. We're not even dating (officially)... Did I get myself into a dangerous situation?

"Answer the question, Y/n," a shiver ran down my spine and brushed every vertebrae at the sound of him saying my name. I tried to wrench my arm free, but to no avail. "Just tell me."

His icy blue stare pinned me in place. I tried to ignore the increasing ache of my wrist as he tightened his grip. I know he doesn't mean to hurt me, but jeez...

"It was just a joke..." I said softly, quickly averting my gaze.

He said nothing and let go of me, though, his eyes remained on my figure. I hugged the stuffed animal to my chest and buried my face in it. I don't even know what I'm feeling right now, and I have no idea if it's good or bad. However, I decided to focus my energy on not crying, instead of useless details.

"Remember when I got annoyed at you for not telling me your knee was hurt?"

"Mhm... What about it?" I sniffed.

"I... Haven't hurt you anywhere else, have I?" Sal kept an even tone, but I knew he wasn't proud to be asking me this.

"No, and unless you somehow make me bleed again, there's nothing for me to tell you about, okay? And I promise to tell you if I get cut or something," I tried to lighten the gloomy hallway's miserable vibe with a joke, but Sal only gave a half-hearted chuckle.

"Please- tell me if you're hurt, bleeding or not, okay?" He was looking down into my eyes lovingly now, no trace of the muted anger from moments before left.

"Alrighty," I shifted my weight uncomfortably.

"Good. Now, do you wanna be alone or-"

"No, I don't. Let's go sleep in my room," I sighed, exhausted.

"Okay, then," my companion clipped his mask on my face and kissed the top of my head like 50 times (it was 8) before placing both of his hands on my shoulders and following me back to my apartment.

"I just realized that after all the time we've spent at my apartment, I've never seen yours."

"Oh, you're right," I mumbled as I unlocked the front door. "Home, sweet home."

I immediately went to my room and flopped down on my bed. Oh, how I long for the abandoned popcorn in Sally Face's kitchen. A moment later, felt the mattress sink a bit on my left. I adjusted the borrowed mask and looked at my favorite blue person with a blank expression.

"So..." He trailed off and rubbed the back of his neck.

"Can I keep this?"

"Nope, sorry, heh." The plastic was lifted from my head and set in his lap.

"Okay..."

"So, uh- are we dating? I don't really know how this stuff works, honestly," Sal gave me a sheepish look.

"Well, do you want to?" I asked, grabbing bis mask and putting it over my face.

"Yeah."

"Then yes," I scooted closer to my boyfriend and smiled up at him from beneath his prosthetic.

Okayy I'm trying to make these chapters longer bit by bit so there's like actually stuff to read when I uupdat. Also, I'm back in school, so updates may vary :-/ anywho, I hope you liked it! If you haven't already taken it meds, go do that! Drink some water, y'all.

Word count: 2238